“Julia felt—feels that she owes you her life,” Evelyn said.

In Clara’s mind it was her that owed the werewolf something. Even if this reality proved that her choice to follow through with Evelyn’s plan was the right one, her guilt would not subside… You’d think this would help…

“She never owed me,” Clara said.

“Cl(ara)—My… Clara said that as well,” Evelyn replied. “If anything, werewolves are surprisingly stubborn… Either way she’s been an absolute gem. She even risked her life to recover your—you after the attack.”

In the background, the sounds of the lurking creature became more pronounced. Claws were now running along the walls, as though actively seeking a way out.

“Does she head out often?” Clara asked to take some weight from Evelyn’s shoulders.

“Every couple of days,” Evelyn said. “She’s not big on confinement.”

Werewolves rarely were. Those captured by The Tower ended up wasting away to nothing. Most died without divulging any information… they can barely be contained during a full-moon…

“I’m surprised she stuck around,” Clara said.

Evelyn’s smile faded for a fraction of a second. That was followed by glitch, where the vampire appeared to be facing in two directions at once.

“Julia felt—feels that she owes you her life,” Evelyn said.

“Putain!” Evelyn swore.

The vampire covered her mouth the moment those registered on Clara’s face. She may have been a whore in her distant past, but Clara experienced it more recently.

“Oh non—” Evelyn said, her eyes wide open and round.

“It’s fine,” Clara said. “You were just reacting and that’s okay. It wasn’t really me…. Entirely.”

“It doesn’t mean I can’t be sorry,” Evelyn countered. “It seems we both experienced firsthand the sting of that word.”

“Too true…”

This led to an awkward pause. They both looked at each other, smiled meekly and said the only thing that could not offend.

Evelyn giggled before appearing right before her. Clara only saw a blur, but she felt the cool peck against her cheek, which put a smile on her face.

“Merci,” Evelyn said. “Clara has barely been coherent since the incident. It’s just… been… me…”

“I can’t imagine what you went through,” Clara said. “A question remains…”

“How do you get back to your love?”

“I’m more curious to see how I can get her to skip laundry day…”

Evelyn’s jaw dropped and she froze in place. The vampire’s heart kept beating strong and true, and did not waver even as a pillow whizzed by Clara’s head.

“Putain!” Evelyn swore.

“Vas donc te faire foutre,” Evelyn yelled. (Go fuck yourself.)

While the words were menacing, that smirk on her lips implied it was all for show.

“Answers,” Clara taunted.

“Ans(swer?)—What were the questions?”

Those razor-sharp talons were out, but an impish grin remained firmly in place. She figured that Evelyn was playing her part… and enjoying it.

“Yes, that I miss this too,” Clara said. “Yes, that I’d love to… and yes that it would be cheating.”

Evelyn made it clear in the past that she was fine with Clara taking others to bed. It came with the lifestyle, but taking another Evelyn to bed would be like playing with napalm… neither could forgive themselves, the other, or me…

After that last word there came a pause. Evelyn’s mask was once more gone, showcasing her level of fatigue.

“I miss this,” Evelyn whispered before resetting her mask and acting as though nothing happened.

“Yes.”

That single answer led Evelyn to cock her head and press her index against her chin.

“Pardon?”

“Yes.” Clara repeated.

Evelyn’s head moved back about a hand.

“What do you mean?”

“Yes.” Clara pushed.“

Vas donc te faire foutre,” Evelyn yelled. (Go fuck yourself.)

It conjured up the imagery of a dark shadow stalking women in the night… Like something straight out of Nosferatu.

The fact that Evelyn’s hearing was superior and did not seem to care made the situation more worrisome… she has to know that creature is there…

“It’s funny how two versions of you don’t seem all that surprised that I’m a different Clara.”

“Ma chère,” Evelyn began. “I have centuries of life experiences on you. One either learns to be adaptable or ends up with a stake through their heart.”

Clara furrowed a brow. That last line did not entirely make sense.

“That’s not an effective weapon on you. At best it would—(slow you down).”

“Why do you think we continue to perpetuate that myth?” Evelyn said before winking.

The longer she was in this body, the more she became aware of its limitations. A dull pain was constant, as was the itching. She took the latter as a sign that new skin was growing back… clearly more than my wings were scorched…

She also became aware of something skittering in the distance. It was much larger than a rat, and yet could not pick up its heartbeat. The most disturbing element was the sound of it sniffing the air… as though searching for prey…

It conjured up the imagery of a dark shadow stalking women in the night… Like something straight out of Nosferatu.