Chapter 54: Escape
Carmilla paced in her room collecting clothes and grabbing money and jewelry she could fit inside her bag. She would run away with Marcel and start a new life with him even if they have to be poor as long as they're together she'll be content and happy. Marcel already agreed and said that they should make their move tonight since it's her last day in the empire.
She's been fuming and crying ever since Ruby told her the truth. She couldn't bear to bow down to her father's whims and be a tool for his power game. No. She will follow her heart even if she has to leave everything behind. Even Ruby.
She paused sitting on her bed before sighing. She removed the locket hanging from her neck and opened it to reveal a photo of her and Ruby smiling brightly from ear to ear. They looked so happy and carefree as if the world was a perfect place with nothing but fantasies for their innocent hearts. She just wished that things could go back to how simple they were.
She kissed Ruby's image and placed it on her desk. She grabbed a quill and paper before starting to scribe a message for her fiance, mostly apologies and confessions of her feelings for Marcel and how she truly felt about her. Ruby deserves to know the truth and she deserves her honesty so she poured her heart out into every word even though her penmanship was rushed and not proofread. She signed her name and folded it before placing it in a neat envelope and hiding it under her desk. However, she can't leave just yet.
Their hotel is secured by her father's men for protection so she has to wait until it's the dead of the night to make her escape and go to Marcel in the opera house where he is temporarily staying for his one-week tour in the empire. In the meantime, she has to attend dinner with Ruby on the hotel's rooftop so she doesn't appear suspicious. She just needs to survive this night and then she'll be forever free from being her father's puppet and finally be her own person with the one whom she truly loves.
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It was the middle of the night when Carmilla initiated her escape. She went to Ruby's room first to leave her the letter and place a parting kiss on her forehead before taking her leave.
Shrouded in a dark cloak, she moved along the shadows and hid within the darkness whenever she heard footsteps nearby. She eventually encountered a few of her father's men but they don't seem to notice her at all as she blended well with the night.
It was very difficult and exhausting as she only walked to her destination yet the aching of her feet are the least of her worries. She encountered a few thugs along the way and although she may not be as strong and as well versed as Ruby when it comes to combat she was able to easily neutralize the threats.
After what felt like the whole night of walking Carmilla finally reached the Opera house. She entered through the backdoor like Marcel had instructed her and went bravely inside the dark hallway. Her path was barely lit so she had to rely on her memory of the structure to not get lost and reach her destination. Marcel had said that he'd be waiting in the backstage for her arrival so she quickly made her way there.
When near the amphitheater, she heard his voice singing a soft ballad and the sound enchanted her. A smile made its way to her lips as she allowed his voice to guide her path. She opened the heavy doubled doors and slowly entered the room, taking her time to bask in his serenading song and elegant gestures. He sang a sweet song he had written especially for her as the spotlight shone down on him.
The song soon ended yet it seems different from the original version where it ended sweetly while this one ended sadly.
"Marcel I-" slow eerie clapping interrupted her words and it came from the seats of the amphitheater.
"What an excellent performance. I clearly see why my daughter was so fond of you. You are a special plaything that produces pretty sounds. But I don't think my daughter should be playing with toys now that she's getting married. So Carmilla, why are you really here?" The lights soon opened one by one revealing her father in one of the middle seats of the play, where she had sat with Ruby.
When all the lights were flickered on Carmilla finally noticed the men pointing bayonets at Marcel, who couldn't even look at her.
"F-father..."
"Carmilla, I told you not to do something so brash." Varsil Karstein said, stepping into the stage towards Marcel with a sword in hand.
"Guards, escort my daughter back to Castle Styria. Marcel and I have a lot to discuss." That was the last thing she heard before being taken away as she screamed and thrashed.
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"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?! What were you thinking trying to run away with that-- with that lowly commoner when you are to be married to Edelweiss?!!" Varsil Karstein thundered as he paced around her room. Carmilla had been forced to return to Castle Styria after being dragged back by her father's knights while she thrashed and fought. She managed to escape their grip a few times but they always caught her.
"You've put our family into scandal and embarrassed me to the Pendragon house!! What am I supposed to tell Lady Althreya?! How am I supposed to tell her that her loyal daughter was crying because mine was a slut?!" he exclaimed, throwing a base against the wall, shattering it into a million pieces. Carmilla winced and lowered her already bowed head.
"I've known this for so long but I allowed it because I thought that it was a temporary fling since you showed so much devotion for Edelweiss but to confess to her that you love that bastard and to elope with him is unforgivable!! NO MORE!! No more will I allow you to intermingle with that wretch! From now on you are not leaving this tower until you are married and I will teach that bastard a lesson he could not forget!" Varsil's voice boomed like a clap of thunder striking an exploding volcano.
"No! I don't care about scandals and honor. You will not hurt Marcel! I'm tired of being your puppet for your little game and enduring grief for your petty desires. I'm your daughter, not a tool so please start acting like a father!" A hard slap made her face twist sideways, a sharp pain colored her cheek red. She stood there in silence, disbelief and shock decorated her face.
"I'm doing all of this for you. What life can he give you, huh? You will have nothing, live in nowhere, and you will be nothing. I'm actually doing you a favor so stop being a brat because you don't know anything about love so shut up and just be grateful that you were born with all this." Varsil Karstein turned his back on her and slammed the door shut, locking her in with no way of escape.
Carmilla was left alone in her cold empty room, grief and anger are the only things swirling in her head. No Ruby this time to console her as she had greatly hurt her and no Marcel to comfort her heart. Sadness and worry overtook her being due to her misfortune and for what could become of Marcel because of her father's greed. She cursed her fate and threw everything her hands could grasp until there was nothing left to destroy.
Carmilla released a loud scream in frustration and threw herself on the mattress. She could do nothing now but cry on her bed as she laments her decision and bemoans her fate.