Chapter 2 Lady Carmilla Daemistre

Liandra

I was in a castle, and I was sure as hell this wasn’t France.

I stepped onto the balcony, resting a hand on the railing as I took in the view.

The castle sat on elevated land, overlooking a town far below. A thousand steps down, give or take, led to streets lined with buildings designed with an unfamiliar architecture. Glistening canals wound through the town, reflecting the sunlight.

It was beautiful, sure. But where the hell was I?

I stepped back from the railing.

Was I... kidnapped?

“Oh, no.”

I hurried back inside and headed for the door. After opening it just enough to peek outside, I checked the hallway. No one in sight.

I slipped out and tiptoed along the carpeted hall, hoping I could find someone who might explain what was going on without asking too many questions.

I turned a corner and walked straight into something solid.

No. Someone.

A very solid someone.

His scent hit me before I could even look up. It was rich and intoxicating, and for some reason, I could pick out every little detail of it.

Since when could I smell people this clearly?

I tilted my head back, then promptly forgot what I was thinking.

Holy shit.

The man in front of me was gorgeous. Dark, messy hair fell across his forehead, and his light gray eyes were so striking that I almost forgot why I'd been sneaking around in the first place.

“Carmilla, you’re awake.”

His voice was just as unfair as his face. Deep and smooth, with the kind of warmth that made you want to listen a little longer.

Before I could come up with a response, he cupped my jaw, making me jump.

“Are you feeling better now?” he asked, brushing his thumb against my cheek.

He waited, his eyes searching my face.

I had no idea who this man was, but apparently, he knew me. Rather than ask how, I gave him an awkward smile and edged away.

“Hello to you, too... stranger.”

He chuckled. “Stranger?”

“Well, I don't know you, so...”

His eyebrows lifted.

“Don't know me? Is that what we're calling it now?”

I glanced behind me, half expecting to find someone else standing there. Maybe he was talking to another Carmilla.

Unfortunately, when I looked back, he was still staring at me.

“After you kissed me, I think we're way past being strangers.”

“Sorry, I did what?”

“You heard me.”

“I was really hoping I hadn't.”

His laugh only made things worse.

I immediately planted both hands against his chest and pushed.

“Hands off, Adonis.”

“Adonis?” He raised an eyebrow. “What nonsense are you talking about?”

“It's a compliment. Don't let it go to your head.”

“I see.” His mouth curved into a smirk.

“Listen here. I don’t remember kissing you. At all. I don’t even remember knowing someone like you.”

He studied me for a moment before that annoying smirk returned.

“Ah. So we’re playing that game?”

“W-what game?”

“The one where you pretend you don't remember anything.”

“I'm not pretending! I genuinely don't know who you are!”

“Is that so?”

Before I could say anything else, he caught my wrist and pinned me against the wall.

I gasped.

What the hell was happening? How did we get from a casual conversation to this?

“Excuse me?” I tugged at my wrist. “I just told you I don't know you!”

He didn't let go.

Instead, he leaned down, his lips close to my ear.

“And here I thought you moaned my name quite nicely.”

A shiver ran down my neck.

Not because I found that sexy. The man was creepy as hell.

Handsome, sure, but still a fucking pervert.

“Let me hear you call my name again, Carmilla.”

I stared at him. Was he seriously expecting me to go along with this?

His thumb brushed across my lower lip.

The moment he started to pull away, I opened my mouth and bit him.

“Fuck!”

He loosened his grip in surprise, giving me just enough time to slip away. I took off running before he could grab me again, my heart pounding as I hurried down the unfamiliar hallway.

“Carmilla! Come back here.”

"As if!"

I had no idea where I was going. I just knew I didn't want to be anywhere near that man.

By the time I finally stopped, I was out of breath. I bent forward, resting my hands on my knees as I tried to catch it.

“Never skip cardio,” I muttered.

As I straightened up, I noticed a woman dusting the vases and trinkets in what looked like a living room. Finally, someone I could ask for directions.

I hurried over and lightly tapped her shoulder.

“Hi. Can I ask where I am?”

She turned around, her eyes widening as soon as she saw me. Then she quickly bowed.

“Lady Carmilla! I'm sorry I didn't notice you sooner. I was focused on cleaning.”

I glanced at the area she'd been dusting and chuckled. “Well, you missed one right there. Anyway, that's not—”

Before I could finish, she dropped to her knees.

“Please forgive me! I'll do better, I promise!”

I stared at her, completely caught off guard.

“Uh, there's no need for that. Just stand up.”

“Right away, my lady.”

She quickly got to her feet, straightened her uniform, and waited for me to speak.

I blinked, then remembered why I'd approached her in the first place.

“Right. So, where am I? And have I been kidnapped?”

Then I remembered the man I'd just escaped from.

I gasped. “Wait, is it the Mafia? Since when did mobsters start looking that handsome?”

I tried to think of any unpaid debts I might have had, but nothing came to mind. As far as I knew, I didn't owe anyone enough money to end up in a castle.

The woman looked at me with concern.

“The Southern Kingdom, of course. Are you still feeling unwell, my lady?”

I let out a short laugh, unsure whether she was serious.

“The Southern Kingdom? Okay, I get it. But where is this place, really?”

“I don't understand. We are in the Southern Kingdom.”

I studied her face, looking for any sign that she was joking. But she seemed genuinely confused by my questions.

“Fine. The Southern Kingdom, or south of the globe. But which country?”

“Restize, my lady.”

“Restize?” I frowned. “Where the fuck is Restize? And why do you keep calling me a lady? I'm not one.”

The woman hesitated before answering.

“But you are Lady Carmilla, the only child of the Daemistre family. I couldn't possibly address you otherwise.”

My smile slowly faded.

“Wait... What did you say? Which family?”

“The Daemistre family, my lady.”

For a moment, I couldn't speak.

No matter how many stories I'd written, there was one thing I rarely forgot: names. I might forget the events and lose track of entire plots, but those ridiculous, made-up names always stuck with me.

Carmilla Daemistre was one of them.

She was a character I'd created ten years ago in my werewolf novel, Rejected by the Lycan King, I Rise on Top.

And she was the villainess.