Zestmilla week

by 0Ethereal0

Summary:

Welcome to my LATE Zestmilla week!! Each chapter will be based on the prompt defined for each day, so the only summary I can give you is that this will be full of fluff, bad jokes, Zestial loving Carmilla, Carmilla loving Zestial and some spice ;)

Notes:

Well, well, well... two weeks late, I proceed to publish the first day of the Zestmilla week.

I hope you enjoy it!

Chapter 1: Day 1 First Meeting

Carmilla sighed, adding a couple of new bills to the huge pile that already decorated her office desk.

She slumped into her padded chair and massaged her temples, trying to calm her incipient migraine. The stress of the past few weeks was starting to take its toll.

She took the last sip of her coffee and started cleaning up the mess on her desk a bit before going to sleep. Everything needed to be spotless and ready for tomorrow’s meeting.

Even though she didn’t want to admit it, Carmilla Carmine was nervous. She, who had landed in hell and raised an empire from nothing. She, who had managed to be named Overlord in record time. She, who was raising two daughters alone in a less than favorable environment. She was very nervous.

“Mami! Mami!”

Carmilla looked up and a tired smile took over her features. She got up from her chair and walked over to the source of the little voices calling her.

“Mis amores… what are you doing still awake? It’s very late” she said, crouching down to be at their height.

“We want to sleep with you” Clara said with her little hands clasped behind her back.

“We barely saw you today, mami” added Odette, throwing herself into a hug, causing Carmilla to lose her balance and land on her bottom on the soft carpet.

She laughed and pulled Clara in close to join the hug.

“Today has been an exhausting day, I’ve had a lot of work” she explained to them as an apology.

She knew that her girls weren’t angry with her at all, but she couldn’t help but feel guilty for not being able to give her daughters all the attention they deserved.

“Tomorrow you will also have a lot of work?” Clara asked, resting her little head on her mother’s shoulder.

“Well… tomorrow I have a very important meeting, but after that I promise I will spend the whole day with you two, okay?” She said, stroking her curly hair.

Odette yawned and asked sleepily, “Are you nervous?”

“A little, princesa… but I’m sure everything will be fine” Carmilla replied, lowering her voice so as not to disturb her daughters’ peace. Hopefully, they wouldn’t take long to fall asleep.

“Come on, let’s go to bed. You can sleep with me tonight” she concluded, standing up with the two girls in her arms.

Since she had arrived in hell, it had been difficult for her to get used to the size of her hands, but on this occasion, as they held the most precious things she had, they seemed perfect.

Clara and Odette were quick to snuggle into her arms, hugging her and burying their little faces in her neck.

She turned off the light in the office and closed the door behind her with her foot. Tomorrow would be a new day.

_______________________

Angelic steel shoes clicked on the marble floor as Carmilla paced in circles around the room, mentally reviewing the data she wanted to share with her new Overlord colleagues.

Her assistant looked at her with a mix of worry, fear, and exasperation. It was natural that his boss was nervous, after all, in a few minutes the room would be filled with the most diabolical and dangerous beings in hell. However, her nerves were beginning to wear on him as well.

Suddenly, the clicking of shoes ceased, and Carmilla forced herself out of her thoughts to welcome the first of the Overlords.

“Oh, dear! You were so kind to offer your home for this meeting!” a high-pitched, rather pleasant voice greeted her. It didn’t sound threatening at all.

“It’s a pleasure” she returned the greeting with a half-smile. “I’m Carmilla Carmine, nice to meet you,” she introduced herself.

“Oh, of course! I am Rosie, from Cannibal Town. It is wonderful to welcome a new Overlord, and even more so if she is as charming as you” she smiled at her with her sharp teeth.

Carmilla sighed slightly in relief. Rosie seemed polite and willing to talk, although her teeth were a clear warning that it was best not to anger her.

During the next few minutes, several demons showed up in the room. Carmilla greeted them all politely.

She expected a group of aggressive, violent and uncivilized people, but for the moment, they had all exceeded her expectations. Even a certain Zeezi, who seemed quite abrupt, but equally kind.

With about five minutes left to start, Carmilla counted the seats she had prepared. Had she miscounted? Was there an Overlord yet to arrive? It was not yet time, so she decided to wait a little longer.

And it wasn't long before they had to wait, only a few seconds passed before a tall, dark figure walked through the door and appeared in the conference room.

“Good day, comrades. I am deeply sorry for the delay, I am afraid I’ve been involved in a territorial dispute this morrow” the man greeted.

Carmilla couldn't help but be surprised by his way of speaking. It was archaic and had a clear British accent, the timbre of his voice echoing deeply and constantly. It was as if his voice reverberated off the walls and reached her ears more than once.

As he approached her, Carmilla began to feel the weight of the air on her. This man gave off a strong and strange aura. It was a mixture of terror, meanness and sophistication at the same time. And his smile gave her chills. She wasn't sure what kind of person he was, but if one thing was clear, it was that she had to keep an eye on him.

“Zestial! How long! You've been missing, old man!” Zeezi greeted him effusively.

The newcomer, who she now identified as Zestial, only gave her a moment, nodding his head. Already a few steps away from her, he took her hand, bringing it to his lips and bowed slightly in greeting.

“It is an honor to finally meet thou, Carmilla Carmine” he said almost in a whisper. “News of thy exploits as an angelic weapons dealer hast reached mine ears from the farthest corners of the pentagram.”

She looked at him, perhaps a little longer than was considered appropriate in such cases.

“Nice to meet you too, Zestial” she replied simply and politely.

She still wasn’t quite sure how she felt about him, but she concluded that it was best that he didn’t notice that she was uneasy in his presence.

After the exchange, Zestial sat down in the only free seat, presiding over the table right in front of Carmilla, and the meeting finally began.

_______________________

About an hour later, the meeting was over, and after thanking Carmilla for her extermination briefing, the Overlords either continued chatting amongst themselves or returned to their respective territories.

All except one.

“Lady Carmine, wouldst thou spare me a few minutes of thy time?” Zestial asked, surprising her as she gathered her documents into a folder.

She looked up, finding him much closer than she expected, so she took a step back. For a fleeting moment she thought she noticed the lime-green glow in his eyes growing more intense.

“Please call me just Carmilla” she replied, raising an eyebrow.

Again his eyes flickered, and this time Carmilla knew she hadn’t imagined it.

“If thou so would, i’d be fortunate to grant that crave, Carmilla” Zestial said with a bright smile.

After that, they both remained silent for a couple of seconds, although it felt much longer to both of them. Finally, it was she who broke the silence.

“What did you want to talk to me about?”

“Oh, of course. I'ld like to discuss with thou a business project that i hast been devising for the past few weeks” he clarified.

A business agreement? With her? Carmilla looked at his face up and down trying to detect any deception in his words, but only found a determined expression, expectant of an answer.

“Uhm… yes, fine. Although it would be convenient if we talked about this in my office” she offered, making a gesture with her hand to indicate the way.

“I agree, after thou, Carmilla” he said with a hint of familiarity in his voice. Apparently the idea of ​​her allowing him to use her first name had pleased him.

Carmilla led him to her office, Zestial following her at a safe distance, and yet she couldn't help but notice the weight of his aura on the back of her neck.

As soon as she opened the door, Carmilla found herself in an unexpected situation and braked suddenly, causing Zestial to almost crash into her back.

"Girls, what are you doing in my office?" she said, putting distance between them and Zestial, trying to make sure he didn't notice.

With each second, Carmilla noticed how her chest was shrinking. Although no Overlord had shown theirself to be a threat, it wasn't the best idea for them to know about the existence of the twins. For her, they were her entire world, but for any of them, they were a weak point to attack.

"You said that after your meeting you would play with us" replied Odette.

Clara, however, was focused peeking her head out to see the tall, thin man who was right behind her mother.

Zestial looked at her with his four eyes slightly wider than normal. It had been centuries since he had seen a child, so many that he was not even able to identify the twins as such.

What he could perceive was the affection and sweetness with which Carmilla addressed the girls as she crouched down at their height and whispered something to them that he could not hear. The scene made him feel out of place, and for an instant, a little jealous too. What did those two little girls have to draw the attention of a powerful Overlord that way?

“Excuse me, Zestial,” she finally turned around and talked to him. “We will have to postpone our meeting for another time.”

The man raised his eyebrows in absolute surprise.

“I do not know what matters thou might attend to with those… odd creatures…” he emphasized, looking at the girls behind her, “but I am sure the agreement I shall propose thee shall be widely beneficial to-“

“Wait” she interrupted him, “What did you call them?”

Zestial looked at her, clueless as to what to say. Her question didn’t sound like a question, it sounded like a threat. He could see it in her frown, in the way her large fists clenched at her sides. He could hear it in her tone of voice.

It definitely wasn’t a question. It was a dare. She was daring him to repeat it.

“Uhm… I’m sorry, I don’t understand…”

Was that the right answer?

“I asked you what did you call my daughters.”

He automatically opened his eyes in understanding.

“Oh.”

Daughters? Carmilla Carmine had daughters? How? Rumors and news about her had been circulating through hell for almost 6 years. He was no expert on children, but those two little girls couldn’t be older than 3. Were they adopted perhaps? Why would an arms dealer adopt two little girls? Charity? Was she using them in some way to her advantage?

By the time he realized it, he had been staring at her for several seconds without saying anything, lost in his thoughts. Carmilla raised an eyebrow at him, and he cleared his throat.

“I am deeply sorry, Carmilla, I did not mean to offend thou or thy daughters” he apologized.

She said nothing, just looked at him with narrowed eyes.

“I am truly sorry, thou are a fascinating woman and i am sure thy daughters are too. Myself should not hast spoken so disparagingly. Forgive mine ignorance” he said with a bow to the girls.

“It is nothing, sir” said the dark-skinned girl.

Carmilla turned to her daughter, putting her arm between them so that she would not get any closer to him.

“Yes, you have already apologized. I think… you speak strangely” added the blonde.

Zestial made a gesture that resembled a smile and looked at Carmilla with shining eyes. In any other circumstance he would deny it, but he thought those girls were quite nice.

She sighed in defeat and massaged her temples.

“Fine, come back next week and we will talk about that agreement you wanted to discuss” she concluded.

The man let out the breath he had not realized he had been holding and slightly relaxed his posture.

He had been hearing about Carmilla Carmine's performance for some time, her rapid rise to power and her unbeatable position in the arms market. Without even knowing her, he was already curious to know how she had achieved such achievements alone and in such a short period of time.

But now that he had had the honor of meeting her, he understood. She gave off an aura of dominance that he had never felt before, but not in a threatening way, but rather admirable and fascinating. It made him want her favor, her approval.

“Until next week then, it was a pleasure meeting thou” he said goodbye taking her hand and leaving a light touch of his lips on it “And thy girls” he smiled at them.

_______________________

The next day, Carmilla got up a little later than her usual time and went to her office still in her pajamas. She was in a good mood, a day of rest with her girls was just what she needed, especially after such a stressful weeks.

When she went to sit in her chair, she noticed that a package had been delivered to her desk. It was a small white box with a red frame, and she wasted no time opening it.

“A box of… tea?”

The package consisted of six individual boxes, each containing its respective single-dose tea bag. The packaging was very pretty, with a distinctly English style, and each one was a different flavor.

At the bottom of the box was a note.

“Dear Carmilla Carmine,

I am writing to apologize again for mine regrettable comment yesterday. To add weight to mine words, I hast taken the liberty of sharing with thou one of mine greatest passions, one that i still enjoy despite how lonely and old mine heart is. Since thou were forced to share with me something that was important to thee, it seems only fair to do the same, although I am fully aknown that mine taste for tea is not comparable to thy wonderful daughters.

I hope thou enjoy the flavors I hast chosen for thou, and I would thou a good day.

Sincerely,
Zestial”

Carmilla let out a soft laugh.

What a strange man.

Chapter 2: Day 2 Comfort/Scars

Summary:

A few months after the battle against the Vees, Carmilla and Zestial share some concerns.

Notes:

Finally the second chapter is here! Sorry for the delay and for the possible mistakes, English is not my first language.

Kisses darlings!

Carmilla collapsed onto the soft mattress with a sigh. The shower had relaxed her muscles, and she was already beginning to feel a sharp pain throughout her body. She squeezed her eyes shut and massaged her legs, trying to soothe the aches and pains that had already begun to appear there.

After a mentally exhausting day, she had managed to muster the willpower to practice a ballet piece for the first time in months, and although she didn't like to admit it, after so long without practicing, she had become quite rusty. Ballet, after all, required a lot of strength and discipline, and it wasn't that Carmilla lacked those qualities, but she had been so mentally exhausted lately that even her physical strength had been drained.

She sighed, disappointed with herself, rubbing her eyes to try and relieve the feeling of tiredness in vain. Lately, the feeling of disappointment was not foreign to her.

The unmistakable sound of a knock on the door made her reluctantly open her eyes.

“Come in” she said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

The person on the other side of the door hesitated for a couple of seconds.

“Girls?” Carmilla stood up to open it herself when suddenly the door opened.

“Oh, Zestial, it’s you” she said, paralyzed for a moment by surprise. When she realized how close they were, she forced herself to take a step back. “Come in, please”.

Zestial bowed slightly and kissed her hand tenderly, a greeting he reserved exclusively for her.

“Good night, dear. I’m sorry I show’d up unannounced” he apologized.

“Don’t worry, you know you’re always welcome” she smiled at him, sitting back on the bed.

The spider demon hung his hat and cloak from the coat rack, and stood in the doorway in slight discomfort.

For many years now, his relationship with Carmilla had been far from professional or even friendly. He had seen her naked more times than he could count, no part of her body was unfamiliar to him, and yet, his fascination with her was so great that the mere sight of her in her favorite pajamas could make him feel as helpless as a small child.

“Did you come for something in particular? Please tell me there is no emergency to attend to, I could die of exhaustion” she said with a sigh.

“Oh, not at all, don’t worry” a warm laugh echoed in the demon’s chest. “I didn’t join for anything in particular, it’s just that i haven’t seen thou for many days.”

Carmilla showed a smile that didn’t reach her eyes and continued massaging her legs. Zestial seemed to be waiting for an answer or an invitation to sit next to her.

Finally she motioned for him to sit on the bed. He happily complied and replaced her hand on her leg with his own.

“Hast thou had a hard day?” he asked softly, massaging the muscles gently over her pajamas.

“Every day is hard lately” she said, resting her head on his shoulder and closing her eyes.

Zestial smiled and used his free hand to stroke Carmilla’s scalp. A small noise of satisfaction escaped her, of course the spider demon knew her weakness perfectly.

“Thou work too hard, mine love, and thou wot thou can delegate to me. I'ld be honored to ease thy burden, even if only some few.”

“I know, the girls say the same thing” she said, running her hand over his chest. “But I can take care of myself, Zestial.”

He giggled with that vibrant laugh that made his chest rumble in a way that Carmilla found comforting, and he found himself unable to disagree, because she was right.

Carmilla was capable of taking care of herself and her family, and that was precisely why he appreciated so much when she showed her vulnerable side in his company.

Still, there were times when he wished Carmilla wouldn't be so stubborn and dump her worries on him. Of course she could handle anything on her own, but sharing her worries with him would make her problems more bearable.

For a few minutes, there was nothing for them but the feeling of each other's presence. The tickling of Carmilla's hair on Zestial's shoulder, the pleasure of his hand decongesting the muscles in her legs.

She was just beginning to fall asleep when she felt a soft kiss on her forehead. The caress of her hand paused on his chest and she took a deep breath.

Zestial then moved down a little to kiss her cheekbone and gently caressed the side of her thigh. Carmilla moved her head away from his shoulder, which he understood as a gesture to give him better access to her face.

He turned and kissed her slowly and deeply full on the lips, cupping her face with one hand and holding her waist firmly with the other.

“Z-zestial…” she moaned and rested her hands on his shoulders.

The demon caressed her thighs slowly and deliciously, causing Carmilla to squirm a little from the tickling sensation.

“Zestial…”

His hand wandered down her lower back until it reached the hem of her shirt and slid underneath.

“Zestial, stop!” she said with a gasp.

He looked at her between gasps for air, and lowered his head, embarrassed and disappointed in himself.

Since the battle against the Vees, Carmilla was not only always tired, she had also put aside the physical intimacy they often allowed themselves with each other. She was often the one to take the initiative, but it had been months since she showed any interest in it.

While she usually took advantage of the moments they shared to relieve tension and clear her mind, Zestial had tried to ignore the situation, blaming it on tiredness or stress that was out of her normal range.

But this rejection was different. The way she had jumped at his touch, as if she feared him, made his heart clench for a moment. It felt like he had tried to force her into something she didn't want to do.

“Carmilla, I…”

She held his face in her hands and looked at him tenderly.

“Zestial, don't worry, I'm just tired” she tried to reassure him.

Zestial caressed one of the hands that cradled his face and looked into her eyes. He knew her very well, too well. The last thing he wanted was for her to worry about his feelings when she barely had time for her own.

However, if he had done something to offend her, if she was worried or scared, he needed to know. He didn't understand why she rejected him. If she didn't want him anymore, as painful as it was, he would accept it. If she needed time, he would give it to her without hesitation. Although he secretly hoped it wasn't either of those things.

“Mine dear…” he moved away a little to leave a distance between them that was comfortable for her. “If thou do not want to be with me, thou can say to me. Thou do not need to hide aught from me.”

Carmilla felt her eyes start to sting with an unpleasant feeling she knew well. There was no escape, no way to lie to Zestial. He could see through her all too well.

Until then she had been able to hide her insecurity, but she knew that it wouldn't last forever. Sooner or later he would realize that the distance she had put between them was an indicator that something was wrong. And that moment had come.

Her only way out was either to be honest, or to ask Zestial to leave and not ask any more questions. But she couldn't do that to him, he didn't deserve it. She knew that if she let him go now he would blame himself for the situation and worry about her. And besides, she was so tired... so tired of being apart from him.

“Zestial, first of all, please don't ever doubt that I love you.”

He wanted to apologize but she stopped him with a hand on his leg, asking for him to let her continue.

“As for me, I'm not going through my best moment, I'm tired, discouraged and I have very low self-esteem.”

Zestial looked at her with his 4 eyes wide open. Since when did Carmilla have self-esteem issues? Why? He always reminded her how much he loved her, he gave her compliments and praise, in bed he adored her like a goddess.

She was intelligent, beautiful, powerful, strong… Why did she feel that way?

“I… I’m sorry… is it… mine fault?”

“Of course not!” Carmilla took his hands and squeezed them tightly.

“That’s why I didn’t want to tell you anything, because I knew you would feel guilty, that you would think that you don’t do enough for me. And that’s not the problem, I promise you.

This is a problem of mine, I haven’t felt like myself since the battle, and one of my worries has been neglecting you.”

Zestial didn’t know what to answer. Knowing that he wasn’t the cause of her pain wasn’t too comforting, not while she felt that way.

“Mine dear, what happened in that battle for thou to feel that way? I may not be able to help, yet i’m sure sharing thy worries shall make thy burden lighter” he said, kissing her knuckles.

She looked at him hesitantly, her hands trembling slightly in his. She caressed the palms of his hands with her thumbs, looking at them to avoid eye contact with him.

“I know it won’t be a big deal for you, but it’s hard for me, so don’t try to convince me it’s not terrible” she finally said.

Zestial nodded and she turned her back to him and lifted up her shirt to let him see the skin underneath.

The spider demon was thankful that she couldn’t see his reaction, because the expression on his face wasn’t pleasant.

Countless scars ran across her skin, some thin and short, as if they had been scratches, others much larger, which had taken away much of the skin. They looked like they were made by a sword.

The view was a mosaic of different shades and textures. While he didn’t care in the least, Carmilla’s insecurity about it was understandable. To him, she was still as beautiful as ever, a few scars wouldn’t make him see her as less beautiful than she was, and they would probably improve with time. It had only been a few months since the battle had ended.

After the initial shock, he dared to run his hand over the rough skin.

“Does it hurt?” he asked in a whisper.

“No,” she said dryly. He couldn’t see her face, but she probably feared that if she tried to talk too much she would start crying.

“I won’t lie thee, they don’t look fine,” he continued stroking her back this time applying a little more pressure. “The most important thing that they heal properly, they are scars, yet they are still recent. I hast ointments that can help. They shall also improve the appearance a lot once they heal merely if that is what worries thou.”

Carmilla sighed slightly in relief.

If there was one thing she liked about Zestial it was how decisive he could be. When faced with any problem, he would always look for a rational solution.

It is true that she needed to know that he was not going to stop wanting her because of this, but it was even more important to know that he would do everything in his power to offer a practical solution.

After all, even though it was a relief to still feel wanted, it was her own mind that was battling with her insecurity, and Zestial couldn't do anything about it. Knowing there was hope for improvement felt like a huge weight being lifted off her shoulders.

“Do you really think they can get any better?” she asked, biting her lip.

“Yes, they shall fade quite a bit, but I doubt I can completely remove them” he concluded, still making comforting circles on her skin.

“Hm….”

Zestial pulled down her shirt again and guided her to turn around.

“I don't think I need to say to thou that thou are still the most beautiful woman, in this realm and in all the ones that may exist” he smiled mischievously at her.

She tilted her head and narrowed her eyes.

“That's your perception, you see me with eyes of love.”

“I see thou with the eyes I possess, dear, and I posses four” he replied, giving her a kiss on the forehead.

“Thank you, Zestial” she smiled at him, getting on her knees to reach his height and kiss him.

When she let him breathe, he looked at her in a happy daze, and Carmilla felt the warmth in her chest that she had so desperately needed over the past few months.

“Are you staying the night?” she asked, already getting under the covers.

Zestial smiled widely and nodded.

“As thou wish, mine dear Carmilla”.

Notes:

I took a lot of time to finish it and I’m not sure about the final product but I hope you liked it anyways!

Please let me know your opinion, I love reading your comments!!

Oh, by the way, it only took them about a week to get back on track, you know what I'm talking about ;)

Chapter 3: Day 3 Human AU

Summary:

Well... In this chapter Carmilla and Zestial will meet in a somewhat... complicated situation.

This is a human AU set in medieval times. I hope you enjoy it! I will update the second part as soon as possible ;)

Carmilla paced around the room. Her usually impeccable nails were now being chewed carelessly. When she was left with no more nails to bite, she decided to sit down. Walking aimlessly would not help her calm her anxiety.

About half an hour later, the door of the great hall opened, and Carmilla stood up.

“Lilith… how did it go?”

The blonde woman walked over to her, made sure the heavy door closed properly behind her, and placed her hands on her friend’s shoulders.

“I’m so sorry, my dear…” she said with obvious pity in her voice. “I couldn’t do anything”.

She sighed and sat back down. Deep down, she already knew that her situation was complicated, and that it was practically impossible to escape it.

“And Lucifer?”

Lilith sat down next to her and took her hand.

“Lucifer is the King, but his influence is limited. Arranged marriages have been a tradition since time immemorial, Carmilla “I’m afraid he can’t do anything”.

Carmilla remained silent, her head spinning.

Her parents had died when she was very young and she had no siblings, so she had had to take charge of her family’s lands and possessions. This exceptional situation had prevented her from being married against her will as was usual for women of her status. At 32, Carmilla was still single, but when she thought she was going to finally get away with it, the members of the royal council had requested her presence at the palace.

Apparently, the council thought that an alliance between a northern fief and a southern one would help unify the kingdom, promote peace and avoid territorial fights. And of course, the best solution that a group of rancid men in their sixties could come up with was to force her to marry a northern noble 14 years older than her.

“Then I guess I have no choice” Carmilla said with resignation.

Lilith looked at her sadly. She hated seeing a woman as strong, brave and intelligent as her friend reduced to a bargaining chip.

“I’m really sorry, Carmilla. But… he’s a rather reserved man, I don’t think he’ll meddle too much in your affairs. I know it’s not much of a comfort, but…”

She sighed and rested her head on her hand.

“Do you know him?” she asked reluctantly, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Lilith twisted her lips into a grimace.

“Well… he’s an old acquaintance of my husband’s. I haven’t talked to him much, but from our few interactions I can tell he’s such a gentleman. And quite attractive I must say”.

Carmilla raised an eyebrow.

“No, no. Don’t try to give him to me gift-wrapped” she said, waving a hand as if dismissing her words.

“Hey, you asked me if I know him” the woman raised both hands to excuse herself.

“Oh, please, just tell me his name and his criminal record” Carmilla said with obvious sarcasm.

Lilith chuckled slightly.

“Well, you’re right my dear friend, you don’t even know his name. His name is Zestial, Lord Zestial Morde”.

____________________________________________

 

Zestial peered through the church gate. The ceremony hall was packed. Nobles from all over the kingdom had come to the wedding as well as the peasants who worked his lands. Even the King had shown his enthusiasm to officiate the wedding (much to the priest's chagrin).

“Zestial! Stay still!” a high-pitched voice distracted him from his thoughts.

He huffed in annoyance as Rosie tugged at his shirt to adjust it. She placed the cloak on him and smoothed out the wrinkles, making sure the brooch was perfectly centered.

“Don't complain. You have to be perfect on your wedding day. And bend over” the woman scolded him.

“Is that strictly necessary?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

His friend's murderous look made it clear that it was not a suggestion, and he reluctantly feigned a bow.

“You have a lovely wavy hair, you need to comb it properly” she said, running her fingers through his hair to fix it.

At this point, Zestial didn’t even bother to contradict her. When she was satisfied with the hairstyle, Rosie tapped him on the shoulder to make him stand up straight again. The height difference was significant even though she was quite tall.

“You look very handsome, dear. I’m sure your future wife will be certainly satisfied”.

“Mine future wife is 14 years younger than me, Rosie. The only thing she’s going to regard of me is that I’m a corky man” he said with a smile.

“Don’t say that. Look at you, any woman would die for a man like you” she said, patting him on the arm.

Zestial smiled at her and adjusted the cuffs of his shirt.

“Fine, I’m prepared now” he said, standing up even straighter.

“Are you nervous?” she asked.

He looked at her for a few seconds and replied confidently.

“Definitely not. This is nothing but a formality, it’s not that important”.

Rosie chuckled. Of course she didn’t agree with anything he said. As much as he denied it, Zestial was nervous. The man was still single at 46, and while he knew how to treat and care for a woman, marrying one he didn’t even know was something completely different.

He already had his life figured out. His political contributions and his frequent collaborations with the army had kept him busy for many years, and had saved him from an arranged marriage. But now he had retired from military life, and the council had been in a hurry to find him a wife.

“Come on, get ready, don't keep his majesty waiting”.

He nodded and opened the church gate.

____________________________________________

 

Carmilla walked towards the altar with a confidence she didn't have.

All eyes were fixed on her. The church pews were filled with people she didn't even know. She assumed they were friends of her future husband, or powerful and influential lords who had come to the event to be seen.

She felt like prey among lions, so she tried to focus on walking straight and not looking nervous.

From a distance and with the low lighting in the room she couldn't see the altar well. The only thing she could see clearly about her future husband was that he was tall, very tall. He was about 6’3’’, and he towered over the King. Of course, Lucifer was 5’4’’. Standing out above him wasn't very difficult.

As she approached Zestial, she could better observe his appearance. He had dark hair, fair skin, and despite wearing several layers of clothing on top, she could guess that he was of strong and athletic build.

When she was at the bottom of the steps, Zestial offered her his hand to help her up. She was then able to look at him up close and in the eyes for the first time.

Lilith was definitely right. He was an attractive man. His features were hard, but seemed soft to the touch. His hair fell in perfectly coiffed waves, and despite his stoic expression, his hazel eyes seemed to be looking right through her.

More out of politeness than real need, she accepted his hand. It was large and slightly rough, but it felt comforting and it could easily hold hers. In fact, he could easily have held both of her hands with one of his.

From what she had been told, he was 46 years old, but now that she looked at him this closely he didn't seem that old. He had no wrinkles and his skin looked very bright and smooth. Physically he couldn't be said to be unpleasant, but his cold and impersonal expression did not convey any confidence.

Once satisfied with her first impressions, Carmilla walked up the steps and stood directly in front of Zestial. Lucifer gestured to them, and he offered her his other hand.

They both took a deep breath, and Lucifer began to speak.

He was babbling something about commitment and love, but Zestial wasn't even paying attention. He was too busy staring at the one who would soon become his wife.

She was undeniably beautiful. A single black lock stood out among her white hair, which was tied back in a pretty bun. A couple of thin strands framed her bronze face. And while fair skin was a status symbol, it seemed that her skin shade was more due to her family's southern origins. In addition, it brought out her beautiful slanted eyes, which were a chocolate brown that looked almost red.

Zestial was a gentleman, and he would never look at a woman in a way that made her uncomfortable, not even his wife. Still, he couldn’t help but take a quick glance at her figure. Her dress was tight at the waist, accentuating her natural curves. What little skin was exposed looked rich and silky. The touch of her hands on his was as soft as the brush of a feather.

Still, even though Zestial was in front of the most exquisite woman he had ever met, he was determined not to pay her any more attention than was strictly necessary. This alliance was a political strategy, nothing more. Aside from providing his wife with a home and whatever material things she needed, he had no interest in investing any more time in her. He just hoped that Carmilla wouldn’t turn out to be a very demanding woman.

“Carmilla… your vows, please” Lucifer said, bringing Zestial out of her thoughts.

She turned her attention back to him and gulped. She didn’t like lying, but since they were both here out of obligation, she would allow herself to do so for today. It’s not like anyone would believe her anyway.

“I, Carmilla Carmine, take Lord Zestial as my lawfully wedded husband and pledge myself to him before God and these witnesses to honour and… love him. To cleave to him, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and to keep myself to him alone, as long as we both shall live”.

“Thank you, Carmilla. Zestial?” the King prompted his friend.

He remained silent. It had been the first time he had heard the woman’s voice, and he was surprised at how deep and clear it sounded.

“Zestial?”

Zestial cleared his throat, snapping out of his reverie and said his vow.

“I, Zestial Morde, take Lady Carmilla as mine lawfully wedded wife and pledge myself to her before God and these witnesses to honour and love her, to cleave to her, in sickness and in health, in good times and in bad, and to keep myself to her alone, as long as we both shall live”.

“Well, does the groom bring the rings?”

“Certainly” he said, taking them out of the pocket of his doublet.

He placed Carmilla’s on her finger and handed her his to put on.

“Excellent” Lucifer said with a huge grin.

Was it possible that he was enjoying this?

“Now, if no one has any objections, by the power vested in me, I pronounce Lady Carmilla and Lord Zestial husband and wife. Zestial, you may kiss the bride” he concluded mischievously.

They both turned in unison to look at the King. A kiss? Was he going to force them to kiss?

“Don’t look at me like that, I’ve managed to stop them from supervising the consummation on your wedding night” he whispered to them. “It’s a kiss, don’t act like children”.

Carmilla looked at him with slightly wider eyes than usual and a grimace of disgust. She had forgotten the tradition where two witnesses to the wedding ensured that the marriage was consummated. But she was immensely grateful that the King had managed to prevent it. It was humiliating enough to sleep with a man out of obligation without having to be watched while doing so.

Zestial coughed and took a step forward. She imitated him, standing a couple of centimeters away. If it weren't for the height difference, they would be face to face.

Without giving her any more time to think, Zestial moved one of his hands to her arm and the other to her jaw, and kissed her very softly for a moment that lasted a second longer than strictly necessary.

From now on, they were officially husband and wife.

Notes:

The next chapter will be the wedding night!

Please let me know your thoughts, I love you read you all!

Kisses <3 <3 <3

Chapter 4: Day 3 Human AU (part II)

Summary:

Once home, the newlywed couple faces the moment of their wedding night.

Notes:

Sorry, sorry, sorry! It's been a long time since I posted the first part of this, but I've had a crazy few months :/

If you want to continue reading this story, I'm writing it independently in another fanfiction called "Of Vows and Duty" Enjoy it! ;)

After many hours of traveling, the carriage finally stopped when it reached an immense wrought iron fence. Noticing that they had arrived home, Carmilla leaned out of the carriage window to observe the outside.

Since they had crossed the imaginary border that divided the south from the north of the country, all she had seen were trees and more trees. The landscape was breathtaking and beautiful, but accustomed to the color of the flowers, the warmth of her home, and the passion of her people, Carmilla couldn't shake the feeling of loneliness and cold that was beginning to form in her stomach.

"We've arrived" the voice of her newlywed husband brought her back to reality.

She looked away from the window to look at him. He was sitting directly opposite, his long legs bent so they wouldn't touch hers in a position that Carmilla noticed seemed quite uncomfortable.

They hadn't spoken much during the journey, so she deduced that either her husband was rather sparse with words or didn't have much interest in her. However, she appreciated the gesture of tucking his legs up so she would be comfortable.

"It is great to be home" Zestial sighed with an almost imperceptible smile of relief.

One of the footmen opened the door for them, and he, sitting closest to the exit, got out first. She was about to do the same, but he held out his hand and insisted on helping her out.

Under normal circumstances, Carmilla wouldn't have needed him; she was extremely agile. But in her long dress, it was difficult not to trip, so this time she was grateful for the help.

The first thing she noticed as soon as she got out of the carriage was how cold the weather was. She was from the south, unused to low temperatures, and probably never would get used to it.

As the guards accompanying them opened the gates, she caught a glimpse of the interior of the compound. Behind the fence lay what looked like a garden. There were no cultivated plants or flowers. All the ground areas were completely dry, although the cobblestone paths that wound throughout the garden were immaculate.

There was a fountain in the middle that had no water, but it was clean, and the plumbing seemed well maintained.

From the condition of the property, it was clear that Lord Morde wasn't particularly interested in gardening. Surely for a man who seemed so busy and sophisticated, tending flowers was a trivial matter. However, he did seem to care about the order and cleanliness of his property.

Looking a little further, she could make out the colossal castle that would be her home from now on. Although it couldn't be clearly seen from a distance, it seemed to be in a classical style. Given Zestial's appearance, she had imagined he would live in a gloomy, Gothic cave, perhaps even with an organ in the living room, but despite how cold it seemed, she couldn't say she disliked the place.

“I usually hast the carriage bring me to the front door, yet since thou’ve just arrived, I thought it would be an appropriate courtesy to take a walk through the garden so I can show thou around the estate” Zestial said, offering his arm.

She took it, more as a way to combat the cold than for pleasure. She made sure her hand was tucked between his arm and his side and walked beside him along the main path leading to the entrance.

Zestial noticed the way Carmilla looked around with melancholy. The change of surroundings, of climate, of city… would probably be hard, and while he didn't have much time to invest in her well-being, he was a gentleman, and he wouldn't forgive himself if the woman who was now his wife was unhappy with him.

“As thou see, the garden is… somewhat dull now” he said, letting go of her arm to place his cloak over her. He had seen her shrink from the cold, and he was used to it anyway.

“The cold weather makes it very difficult to bloom. It’s not worth trying to plant anything now. We can’t even get the fountain working, otherwise the water would freeze in the pipes. But I assure thou, the garden is beautiful in the spring.”

“Do your servants take care of it?” Carmilla asked curiously. “This place is huge.”

“Well… yes, they do most of the upkeep and maintenance, yet I also hast mine own little place. Come, I’ll show thou around.”

The faint hint of emotion in his eyes surprised Carmilla. Apparently, Zestial was interested in more than just the war.

She followed him through a sidewalk that led to a glass-enclosed room attached to the right wall of the castle. Zestial opened the door, and they entered what looked like a greenhouse.

Inside, there were all kinds of plants and flowers, and the temperature was much higher. Carmilla even took off his cloak and laid it on a bench by the entrance.

In the center was a sort of almost extinguished fire pit, which she assumed served to radiate heat and maintain a warm environment for the plants.

"I can't maintain a constant temperature outside, so I thought I could do it here."

Carmilla strolled around the room. She stroked the enormous leaves of a monstera growing along the glass wall, then bent down to the height of a small begonia.

"It's... really beautiful. You even have plants from the south” she said softly.

"I'm glad you like it. Thou are free to come here whenever thou desire” Zestial said, standing beside her. "Well, thou are free to go anywhere in the house thou desire. It is thy house now, too." Carmilla made a grimace that resembled a smile.

She was never afraid, but she had to admit that when she was told she had to marry a man she didn’t knew, she had felt a great deal of insecurity. Her life was quiet and stable, and to be honest, she was frightened by the idea of ​​marrying a man who despised her and treated her like a piece of meat.

To her relief, however, Zestial didn't seem like a barbarian, at least not yet. They still had a wedding night, and his behavior in bed would probably speak volumes about him more than anything he could say.

For now, she would try to focus on the positive; there was something, however small, that reminded her of home. Maybe things like that would help her adapt to her new life.

She was strong, she was independent. She had no intention of living a dream life with a husband she'd just met. But she would be able to overcome her new circumstances.

"It is getting dark, we should go in for dinner" Zestial said.

She hummed in approval and stood up.

________________________________________

“Is all to thy liking?” Zestial asked after taking a sip from his wine glass.

Carmilla gestured to him to indicate she was finishing a bite.

“The food is delicious” she said with a half smile “and so is the wine.”

He smiled back and continued eating.

Carmilla had little idea what was on her plate; it looked like some kind of stewed meat with potatoes and some vegetables.

Normally, she preferred a lighter dinner, but with the cold weather both outside and inside the castle, she was extremely grateful for a warm, comforting meal.

When she was satisfied, she politely placed her cutlery on her plate.

“Would thou like some dessert?” Zestial asked, finishing his meal as well.

“Actually… I’m exhausted. If you don’t mind, I’d like to go to bed” Carmilla said, finishing her glass in one gulp.

The whole situation would probably be less unpleasant with a decent amount of alcohol in her body.

"Of course, it is been a long day. I shall show thou my—our room" he corrected himself.

Zestial got up from his seat too quickly, almost knocking over some of the decorations on the table. Carmilla smiled inwardly. He didn't seem comfortable with the idea of ​​"consummating" their marriage either.

It was obvious they had both been avoiding the subject all day. But now the moment was approaching, and Carmilla had begun to feel a slight nervousness building in her stomach.

Why did she feel this way? It wasn't the first time she'd been with a man; in fact, throughout her life, she could say she'd quite enjoyed the perks of being single.

Besides, Zestial was an attractive man. He was quite a bit older than her, but he was tall, handsome, and strong. Under other circumstances, she wouldn't have had any problem sleeping with him, but this was different.

This whole situation felt like a one-night stand, except the complete stranger in front of her was now her husband. She couldn't ask him to go home once they were done. She'd have to see him the next day, and the next, and... the next.

After dismissing the servants, Zestial led her upstairs to a half-open door. A warm light from inside the room dimly illuminated the hallway.

Once inside, the first thing Carmilla noticed was the crackling fireplace on one side of the room. The enormous bed in the middle of the room had several blankets draped over it, and they seemed warm and fluffy, so at least she wouldn't be cold sleeping.

"Well... make yourself comfortable" he said, sitting on his side of the bed.

She glanced at him as he unbuttoned his shirt. His hands slid the sleeves over his shoulders, letting the garment fall beside him on the bed. The dim firelight highlighted the way his back muscles contracted and stretched as he undressed.

Carmilla mentally scolded herself and concentrated on undoing the buttons on her dress. She squirmed, trying to reach the seam, but despite her excellent flexibility, it was very difficult to get the position of each button right. Didn't he intend to undress her himself?

She looked back again. Zestial had put on long pants and a thin shirt.

"Could you help me with these?" Carmilla asked, trying to hide the blush spreading across her cheeks.

"Oh, sure” He quickly stood up and helped her undo the buttons one by one. There were about 30 of them, so it took some time, especially given the size of his hands compared to the tiny bottoms.

She could clearly feel his palms resting on her back to aid him in the task. The pressure was light but pleasant, and Carmilla found herself resting her hands on the vanity in front of her to hold herself in position and facilitate his access.

When he finished, he tapped her shoulder, and she turned around, but to her surprise, she found him not behind her, but sitting on his side of the bed again.

Making an effort to ignore his coldness, Carmilla slid the dress over her shoulders, pushing it off when it caught at her hips, then letting it fall to the floor. A slight shiver ran over her skin, now exposed to the cool air of the room. She was only wearing her underwear, and since she'd have to take it off anyway, there wasn't much point in putting on some pajamas.

Slowly, she sat down on her side of the bed. She undid her hair, careful not to pull any strands. Little by little, she arranged the small ornaments and hairpins on her nightstand.

Throughout the process, she felt the urge to turn and look at him. Was he watching her? Had he begun to grow impatient? He didn't seem like the type to lose patience easily. Still, she held back her urge until she finished undoing her hair without any haste.

Once she'd finished untangling the remaining knots, she massaged her temples and scalp to ease the pain of the tightness in her hairstyle.

And finally, she decided to look at him. She did so for only a moment, and for a moment, it felt like he'd turned abruptly so she wouldn't catch him looking.

At this point, she imagined he'd already made some awkward move to get closer to her. Possibly reducing the distance between them on the bed, slinging an arm awkwardly around her to trap her between him and the mattress... but no. Absolutely nothing.

Apparently, Zestial had no interest in taking the initiative. Whether it was out of disinterest or a desire to avoid making her uncomfortable, she wasn't sure. What was clear was that the only heat in the room came from the fire crackling a few feet from the bed.

The situation was starting to get awkward, and sex was rarely good if the only feeling between the participants was awkwardness. So Carmilla did what she did best, take control.

Without giving herself time to think about what she was going to do and regret it, she abruptly turned and straddled Zestial without warning.

To her surprise, he wasn't lying on his back, but on his side, specifically the side that faced away from her.

"Holy fuck" he muttered, turning and looking at her with wide eyes.

She readjusted her position now that he had turned over. His hands remained raised and completely still in the air, as if he were afraid to put them on her. Carmilla felt him shudder beneath her, her eyes fixed on his.

She waited for his reaction for a few seconds, giving her time to reconsider what she had just done. Was it possible she had caught the man already trying to sleep?

Before she had more time to register the embarrassment that was beginning to creep up her neck, Zestial sat up, his face inches from hers. He was close, but not close enough to make her flinch.

"Are thou okay?" he asked with the greatest composure he could muster. His eyes remained completely fixed on hers, forcing himself not to shift his gaze downward.

Carmilla looked at him in bewilderment and tilted her head slightly, as if she were observing some kind of exotic insect. For God's sake, she had just pounced on him in her underwear.

Finally, his hands moved, though not to her waist as she had expected, but to take hers and remove them from his chest. She hadn't even realized when she had put them there.

“Thy hands are cold. Doth thou desire to sleep on mine side of the bed? It is closer to the fire" he said, feigning a certainty he didn't feel at all.

"Sir" Carmilla said, a hint of irritation in her voice. She rolled off him and sat down on the bed, now feeling slightly ridiculous.

She wasn't the one who wanted to sleep with him, and maybe he wasn't the one with her either, but they were both bound by law. That was her duty, and if she'd taken the first step, it was to avoid making things any more tense than they already were. Why was he rejecting her?

"Are you playing with me or something?" she asked with a frown as she pulled the covers over her, now aware of how cold she was.

Zestial looked at her doubtfully, trying to measure his words.

"I thought it would be more comfortable for thou if we just... let this matter drop" he said calmly.

"Let it drop?" Carmilla asked.

Could they let it drop? The custom was for a couple of witnesses to oversee the consummation, but while they'd managed to avoid that annoying detail, it hadn't even occurred to her to not fulfill what was unfortunately her obligation.

“His Majesty failed to prevent our marriage, yet I do not usually force women to sleep with me. Whether or not they're mine wife” he said, dramatically placing a hand on his chest.

“Oh” Carmilla murmured, looking at him in bewilderment.

Good. That was a surprise. His behavior had apparently gone from indifferent to chivalrous. She couldn't deny that she felt some relief at his words. Still, she couldn't stop a hint of irritation from creeping into her head. On the one hand, she appreciated his consideration, but she wasn't a child either. She could handle this. Again, she felt a little ridiculous.

“Good” she said, coughing a little to make sure her voice didn't betray her. “Better.”

It wasn't entirely clear to her whether he didn't want to have sex with her or simply didn't want to force her, but she had to admit to herself that being rejected so easily had hurt her pride a little.

Zestial looked at her, trying to decipher from her expression whether he had offended her or if she was uncomfortable. The idea that she had felt compelled to take the initiative and sleep with him against her will made him feel like a dirty old man.

"I'm glad we cleared the matter up then" he said to settle the matter, settling back into the sheets on his side. "Good night, mine dear.”

Carmilla stared at him in complete disbelief. That was it? While she wasn't disappointed, she wasn't entirely happy either.

"Um... good night" she replied, lying on her back and pulling the covers up to her chin.

After the awkward exchange, silence finally fell in the room. The sound of the fireplace was very pleasant, and now that the tension in the air had begun to dissipate, she realized how exhausted she was. She closed her eyes and let sleep take over.

That night, Zestial fell asleep feeling like a gentleman; the stupidest gentleman on Earth.

Notes:

Let there be no doubt that Zestial was having a HARD time trying not to watch Carmilla literally strip in front of him. (Maybe he did watch a little.) The man is respectful, but he's not made of stone.

I don't know if this chapter was good, but I managed to get it where I wanted, so I'm satisfied.

I know you all probably wanted to read about some nice, weird sex between them, so I hope I didn't disappoint you too much lol. In my defense, I was clear they wouldn't have sex on the first night from the moment I wrote the first chapter.

Please leave a comment with your thoughts! I love reading them!

Chapter 5: Day 5: Letters

Summary:

We see how Carmilla explores her emotions through letters to Zestial.

Carmilla Carmine was a strong woman. You only had to observe her for a moment to realize this. Her gaze was sharper than any of her angelic weapons, her disciplined and elegant posture, and her firm, confident voice radiated a magnificent aura of power worthy of her status and rank.

Yet, despite her power and toughness, Carmilla was probably the most just and respected Overlord throughout the infernal pentagram. Her impeccable performance and business savvy had made her not only a woman to fear but one to admire.

And yet, tonight Carmilla Carmine was not rigid, serious, or impassive. She was not an Overlord, nor an arms dealer, nor even a mother; she was a woman, a woman soft and sensitive due to accumulated fatigue.

A glass of wine danced between the fingers of her left hand, her legs, freed from her angelic shoes after a long day, crossed each other with a comfort unbecoming of her public figure.

Her other hand played with her pen as she reread the sheet of paper in front of her over and over again.

“My dear Zestial,

I don't know what demon possessed me to write this to you, but I feel compelled to pour out my feelings somehow, and who could I turn to but the only one who can calm my anxiety and anguish?

This week has been tough, but don't worry, I won't bore you with technicalities or exasperating stories about work. I just wanted to tell you that these days would have been much more bearable with you by my side. And yet I haven't been able to call you to ask you to come see me. You know how pride gets the better of me sometimes.

I don't even know what I expect from you by writing this. Maybe nothing. But every day I feel like I can't endure another without seeing you, and harboring this thought is unbearable. I know it's not worthy of an Overlord, but I confess it nonetheless.

I'm looking forward to your return from your trip,

Carmilla.”

She sighed, resting her head on her hand. The wine made her feel slightly dizzy, but she was so tired that the sensation was quite pleasant. A soft smile escaped her lips almost without realizing it.

She folded the letter carefully and placed it in an envelope. Then she opened one of her desk drawers and peeled one of the stamps off a sheet of paper to stick it on the back of the envelope.

She checked the time on her computer screen: 2:02. It wasn't an outrageous time to be awake, but if Zestial had been there with her, he would have made sure she went to bed long ago. It was a funny thing, how she had the most feared demon in Hell as her guardian angel.

She smiled at that thought. Maybe she'd drunk too much, but she decided not to dwell on it; she was simply feeling pampered by tiredness. Tomorrow morning she'd be back to herself, she'd be strong again. But for tonight, she allowed herself to dream about him.

________________________________________

Carmilla snorted, her quill writing furiously on the paper, almost ready to tear it. She'd been trying to write something that made the slightest bit of sense for almost two hours, but here she was, staring at a sheet of paper filled with crossed-out words and inconsistencies.

“Zestial,

Why are you so infuriating? Why won't you let me get close to you? I'm tired of not moving forward; we've been years without making a move.

I can't blame you for not feeling the same way I do, especially since I don't even know what I feel, but your calmness around me irritates me deeply. Sometimes I hate you. Just sometimes.

Carmilla.”

She read what she'd written, and a wry snort escaped her lips. She didn't even have a real reason to be furious. She was Carmilla Carmine, a Supreme Overlord of Hell, no silly, lovelorn schoolgirl.

But that afternoon's meeting had been disappointing. It had been almost a month since she had last seen Zestial. There had been a lot of activity in his territory lately. Since he had abandoned his position as an Overlord to help her with her business, there had been the occasional attempt at rebellion. Because of this, he had been forced to quell the revolts, which had tied him to his territory.

This meeting was the first time they would see each other after many days apart. Was it so unreasonable that she would expect anything more than a cordial greeting? A touch, a word, a sign that he had noticed the distance as much as she had.

But no, Zestial had been the same as always: polite, attentive, kind, presumptuously self-confident.

Carmilla hesitated about crumpling the letter and throwing it straight into the trash, but finally folded it carefully, as if even her fury deserved to rest in order.

She leaned back in her chair, upright again, her composure intact. Maybe that night she would accept defeat with class.

________________________________________

Carmilla was happy; she couldn't deny it.
She didn't need to write it down, and yet she did, because she wanted to tell him.

“My dear Zestial,

There are things I can't say out loud, not to my daughters who need to see me strong, nor to our fellow Overlords who might use the information against me. I have no choice but to tell you.

In writing, on paper, I can acknowledge that it's not a whim, that you're not a whim. I try to convince myself otherwise, out of prudence or pride, but deep down I know it's real. It scares me, but you make my life in hell less hellish.

Today you made me smile. To you, it may be silly, but it gave me more peace than I can admit. At least for tonight, you've made me happy.

Carmilla.”

A smile escaped her lips without permission. She was too old to feel butterflies in her stomach; she couldn't afford to have weaknesses, and yet that weakness felt so good that she felt the need to confess it somehow or her chest would explode.

She folded the letter carefully and was about to put it in the envelope when an icy chill ran from her lower back to the nape of her neck. She recognized the feeling instantly.

Zestial was there.

"Thou art working late again" he murmured, his deep voice too close to her ear.

Carmilla almost jumped in her chair. Reflexively, she hid the letter behind her back and tilted her head toward him.

"And you show up unannounced, as always" she replied in a light tone that didn't reflect her feelings.

Her heart pounded in her chest, and for a moment, she feared Zestial could hear it. Now she understood how her daughters felt when she caught them sneaking past their curfew.

She stood up from her chair, instinctively trying to get away from him, and stood with her back to the window at an angle where he couldn't see what she was hiding.

Zestial looked at her with a feline smile, full of curiosity. His eyes radiated a green light, as if his body could barely contain the emotion. He advanced toward her with firm but delicate steps, as if he didn't want to scare her away.

"What are thou hiding from me?" he asked, leaning toward her. They were so close that Carmilla could feel his warm breath on her neck. His gaze dropped to where her hand was hidden behind her back.

Carmilla maintained her position with dignity, unfazed by his imposing figure so close to her. Not that she could complain...

"Not everything concerns you, dear” she said in a small voice that she managed to disguise as firmness.

Zestial stifled a laugh in his chest and reached out a hand toward her, brushing his fingers against her elbow. His closeness was suffocating, and for a moment Carmilla was about to give in.

Instead of being dazzled, she closed the distance between them even further, enough so that he could smell her perfume, and smiled wickedly.

"Can't a woman have her little secrets?"

The shadow of Zestial's smile faded for an instant. His green eyes, always so confident, flickered with a flicker of hesitation, a feeling Carmilla recognized as doubt.

Then she knew she had disarmed him.

That tiny crack in his perfect facade was enough to restore her pride and confidence. She gripped the collar of his cloak, holding him in place, and laughed softly but venomously.

"Goodnight, Zestial” she whispered against his lips, suddenly releasing him and walking away to her desk.

She carefully slid the letter into the drawer and quietly closed it.

He remained still, perhaps processing the swirl of emotions now coursing through his body uncontrollably, caught between temptation and self-control.

Finally, he turned to her, leaning on her desk so he could face her.

"I be going to find out what it is thou art hiding from me, Carmilla."

The sound of her name on his lips sent a pleasant shiver down her spine, but she tried not to focus too much on it.

"I wish you luck” she said, patting his chest with a hint of cruelty in her voice. "You'll need it."

Zestial laughed affectionately and stroked her shoulder, giving up for today. He sighed and changed his voice from "seductive" to "standard."

"I came to invite thou for a cup of tea, yet since I see thou art... immersed in thy own affairs, I think I shall save mine invitation for another nonce."

He approached her again and placed his hand on her hip. He didn't rest it; it was a touch like a feather, but Carmilla felt it like fire.

"I shall make sure not to show up unannounced next time. I wouldn't want to find thou in a... compromising situation."

Carmilla paled for a moment. This psychological battle was sapping her resolve. Multiple images flashed through her mind at that moment, and she was grateful that Zestial had already taken a few steps toward the window and couldn't see her expression.

After a deep, silent inhalation, she turned to him with a slightly nervous smile.

"I bet you'd like that” she challenged, holding her chin high.

Zestial opened his eyes a little wider than usual for a moment. He felt a dry cough threatening to escape his throat and did his best not to let it escape.

"Good night, Carmilla” he said, trying not to splutter. And just as he had come, he vanished in a puff of black smoke.

She smiled to herself. She had decided that tonight she would go to sleep early.

For tonight, she had won. And maybe another day she would decide to send the pile of confessions piling up in her desk drawer.

But that would be another day.

Notes:

Well this is a bit short but I like it hahaha. Please leave your comment I love to read you!!