Matriarch Carmilla von Karnstein shook her head. "Liesel, you are our seer. You of all vampires should know better tan to commit such a blasphemy is this. You performed a turning without the permission of your matriarch. Worse, you allowed her to be turned without the proper rites and blessings of Mother Night and Lady Moon. Does the consecration of our fledglings mean nothing to you?"
Liesel stood before Carmilla and Mircalla's thrones, trembling. "I'm sorry, Matriarch. I was so excited to find her that I just turned her in the heat of the moment. I figured we could do her initiation ceremony later, right? I'm sorry, her aura was just so perfectly aligned with our clan that I forgot myself."
Carmilla hung her head sadly. "If you were any other member of our clan, I would overlook this. But you are the clan's seer, Liesel. I must hold you to a higher standard. Alas, that means greater consequences." She turned to Mircalla. "Am I not right, my sweet?"
"You are very right," Mircalla said. "I might still have let it go myself, but I can see why you feel you cannot."
Carmilla looked Liesel straight in the eye. "Understand that I do not enjoy what I am about to proclaim. Liesel, I'm afraid that I must suspend your status as a vampire. You shall be human for a full week. Once that week passes, I shall turn you back, and you may participate fully in the activities of our clan. I assure you, it isn't a full excommunication. Walperga, bring forth the Elixir of Mortality."
Liesel tried not to break down sobbing as Walpurga von Karnstein, Carmilla's sister, approached her carrying a phial of a dull green liquid. Wordlessly, Walpurga held it for Liesel to take. Reluctently, Liesel took it and swallowed the potion. Immediately, she felt herself changing. Her fangs shank and blunted into normal human canine teeth, and herbody resumed its production of blood. As the new blood flowed, Liesel's pearly skin deepened to a rich tan and her body grew warm to the touch. Worst of all, though, was what happened in Liesel's mind: She could no longer hear the whispers of Mother Night or feel Her presence. Liesel's seer talent had gone dormant! Liesel ran sobbing to her chamber.
Carmilla turned awkwardly to her wife. "Did I do the right thing, darling?"
Mircalla squeezed her wife and matriarch's hand. "Only time will tell. Honestly, I saw no real harm in Liesel's mistake."
Carmilla sighed. "Sometimes I think there aren't any right answers when you're a matriarch."
Liesel plopped into her coffin and wept into the satin lining. As she mourned her lost fangs, her girlfriend Claudia walked in. Claudia noticed her beloved's sorrow and went to comfort the platinum-blonde girl. As she grew closer, Claudia doubletook; she smelled blood. What's more, the blood carried the scent of... Liesel?! "Is something wrong, Liesel?" Claudia asked warily.
Liesel looked up at Claudia, her face no longer pale and bloodless. "Oh, Claudia! Something terrible's happened!"