Felt like an age since Selena had visited Karnstein Manor last. The immense and sprawling tudor-style building was eerily quiet during the day, and more so now with the atmosphere heavy around them. But she could almost cut through it with a claw the second she and Jezebel entered the main hall as the tension became physical. Morgana and Delilah were keeping far away and not interfering the argument between the mother and daughter they had interrupted.
Carmilla von Karnstein stood before her throne. Swept in a darkness that the sunlight streaming in through the windows couldn’t touch and her sculpted facial features statue-like in their stillness. Mircalla still sat patiently in hers. Selena and Jezebel had to take several steps into the hall before the matriarch's attention snapped away from the black-haired teen standing below the dais. “Selena, welcome to our home. Now please tell my daughter she is being foolish.”
Selena’s fur crept with unease when Tatiana slowly turned. There was truth to the adage that the eyes were windows to the soul and the violet orbs were blazing with a defiant conviction. But the sunken cheeks made her best friend seem skeletal and the hollowness disturbed her far more. How long was it since she had fed?
“This might not mean much, but I am sorry for screaming at you on the way to the lake.” She had hurt both her and Jez by being quiet about her feelings and taking their understanding for granted. “Jezebel told me to run after you, instead I stayed where I was. We texted afterwards and like an ass I kept going on about forming a streak and treated you as something separate to it without meaning too.”
“Right. You said it yourself. A streak is a family, remember you texting me that. Glad we had that sorted. So, are you ready? Jezebel must’ve told you what would happen if you’re both here. You’ll love having both Vampire and Weretiger powers, Lena.” The tone was absolutely dead and flat.
Selena massive and feline physique shrunk into the body of an eighteen year-old woman on the stride that brought her face to face with the emaciated Vampire. “Growing up the furless runt of the litter and mostly excluded from the pack hurts even if my I know my family loves and cares for me. You’ve been my shoulder to cry on more times than I can count and your mom, a freaking vampire matriarch, have let me stay here whenever I’ve wanted. Accepting non-Weres as full members of my Streak will bristle some furs, but if it isn’t a law or tradition that upsets another clan then its territory. It’s stupid, but you’re not Tats. I’d rather follow your and Carmilla’s example.”
“... Then why not have mom turn you into a vampire!” Blue, venom-laced spit flew from Tatiana’s mouth, but her face uncoiled and her muscles eased when she saw the love of her unlife stiffen and bite her lip for a second before accepting the offer. “No. Please, let me do this for you. I love you, Selena.”
“I love you too, Tatiana. Having you in my arms or as a lap to fall asleep on that means more to me than losing a tail and– my dream since childhood. It’s a lot, but less than spending eternity with you and Jezebel would mean for me.” Selena knew she was being unfair and raining on Tats self-sacrificing parade. Yet so what? Tats should leave being an idiot to those with experience.