“Carmilla…” Elena said, her voice low and full of concern.

Carmilla didn’t, or couldn’t acknowledge the girl, as her focus was glued to the sounds of fighting and the thrill of bloodshed just a few yards from them. She pushed through the crowd, dragging Elena with her like a doll. The poor woman letting out protests on deaf ears. The sea of people parted, now realizing what had just walked into the picture. There were some faint gasps, a whisper or two as they watched Carmilla storm to the center.

But her appearance didn’t cease the fight going on in the middle. Two men too busy bludgeoning the other in the face. She watched them, as did the entire village. But her reasons different, as the blood in her veins buzzed, and her heart pumped through her ears. Elena finally ripped her arm back from her grasp, her eyes wide in fright as she too watched helplessly.

“W-We should do something,” Elena said, looking to see Carmilla’s eyes wide with a smirk that just about revealed teeth. Elena bit her lip, bringing her hand to her shoulder and shake her lightly.

“Carmilla?”

Elena grew desperate, seeing now that she was in a trance. Carmilla’s hands shook, her fists white as she watched in a mixture of obsession and desperation. A particularly loud yelp had Elena whip her head back to the scene, her hand slapping her mouth as she saw the man on top the other collapse. A piece of metal shrapnel lodged into his shoulder. That broke Carmilla from her daze, her foot inching back as she too saw him hit the floor.

The crowd got louder, limbs frenzied as people began to flee the area. The injured man cupped his bleeding shoulder, his fingers working to pull out the metal. But the other man that had been pinned by him sprung up from the dirt and took charge of the fight.

Unfortunately for him, his moment of revenge lasted a millisecond before another flying piece of metal shot through the air, piercing right between his eyes.

Screams filled Carmilla’s ears, the blood pumping in her head drowned out by sweet music. She shut her eyes tight, her head now buried in her hands as she tried to fight back the inching in her skin.

Elena was frantic at her side, her gasps drowned out by crying children and mothers that screamed for their husbands. Then all came to a close, when a booming voice dominated the village center.

“Well, Well, look what we have here.” An abrasive voice announced. The head of a hammer came into view above some heads, then the sight of a rag-tag man with circle sunglasses appeared through the crowd. He had a lit cigar in his mouth, and as he stepped into the circle he dropped it, stomping it out with his boot.

The horde was silent now, all eyes on this man. “Don’t get all quiet on me now,” He nearly laughed out, tilting his glasses down to peer at the broken man on hard mud. “Things were just getting started.” He smirked darkly, the air all around them now feeling electric.

The bleeding man got onto his knees, his voice quiet as he pleaded to the man. “Lord Heisenberg,” The rest was too hushed for Carmilla to catch onto, as his back was facing her. But she didn’t miss the changing look in this mans eyes. He took his glasses off fully, stuffing them into his trench coat and outstretched his hand.

“Setting an example is my job,” This Heisenberg man bellowed out, turning his head to look at everyone.

“I did nothing wrong!” The injured man cried out, but his plea fell flat.

“Beating up another man calls for punishment, and I’m not in the greatest mood.” Heisenberg said, his crooked teeth showing through his scarred lips. He was enjoying this wasn’t he?

“But-” The man was cut off, Heisenberg’s hand raised as some sort of threat.

“Who really cares about your excuses,” He said, impatience now poisoning his words.

“I do, let the man talk,” Carmilla said, her mouth moving before she could stop the words from spilling out. All eyes were on her, the townspeople now reminded of what was among them. A strand of hay landing on the ground could be heard by the stillness that flooded the air. Carmilla felt the beginning of panic settle in the tip of her fingers, her heart working like a racehorse to compensate for her ever growing inhalation of oxygen. 
“What was that?” Heisenberg rasps out, his hazel eyes now focused on Carmilla and a shaking Elena. The brim of his hat just barely concealing the arch in his brow. 
“I-It’s nothi-”

“I said let the man talk.” Carmilla repeated, cutting off Elena. She stepped forward, a distinct whimper coming from Elena in protest. The man just continued to stare her down, almost in disbelief that someone would even dare talk back. Then his crooked teeth were barred fully in a crooked smile, his throat bobbing as he tried to bite back a laugh.

“And who are you to order that?” He said, his voice imposing, competitive in a way.

Carmilla stepped closer, now more determined to give this man a fight. “I could say the same.”

Heisenberg looked taken aback for a moment before doubling over in crying laughter. Carmilla squinted her eyes, biting her lip to swallow back the distaste in her mouth at this mans complete arrogance. Her fists balled together at her sides, her shoulders high as she tried to conjure more courage.

“Ohohoo! That’s rich!” He laughed out, straightening his posture to fix his hat. “You must not be local,” He tilted his head, giving her a look that had suspicion written all over it. People closest to her scooted their feet away, their eyes telling this man just what he wanted to know.

No, she wasn’t local, not in their world. And it showed from the amount of growing whispers and a bold voice coming from behind her.

“She’s one of them Lycan!”

Carmilla whipped around to see the butcher, Greg, no George or was it Grigore. His bushy mustache twitched when he looked to her, his eyes beady as ever and ever more frightened when she shot him a look that could kill his entire bloodline.

“That’s not true!” Elena came to her defense, but Carmilla put her hand to her shoulder, giving her a slight shake of her head.

“No I’m not,” She looked back to Heisenberg, her face perpetually aloof and defiant.

The lord leaned his head back, assessing Carmilla. “Hmm,” He grunted out, eyes now back on the man at his feet.

“This stranger wishes to give you a chance, what do you say to that?” He said, kicking the man to his back. The villager cried out, the piece of metal lodged in his shoulder digging deeper into him. He let out a couple grunts and an eruptive cough before looking to Carmilla.

His face warped in torment at the sight of her before looking back to the lord. He struggled to get back up, his right hand cradling his wound. “Id rather-” he coughed, “I’d rather be stricken in the heart than face that beast.” His words were a guttural spit, his head hanging low.

Carmilla fought off a hiss of petulance, the sting of rejection reviving the savage itch in her limbs and the grating pumping of blood in her ears. No matter how much she tried to prove her humanity to these people, it was always thrown back at her like a rotten tomato. How much more would it take for them to give some sense of clemency. She bit her lip to quell the shaking of her chin and shut her eyes to stamp out the burning in her eyes.

Heisenberg exploded into a spell of hysterics, his deep voice bouncing off walls and entering Carmilla’s ears like a sirens call. It nearly made her tip over in dizziness and completely leave her a vulnerable sack of limbs. She wanted to lash out, to scream her head off, or to show everyone what they saw her as. A merciless beast with no sense of moral. But before that tether of self-control could be snapped, the feeling of warm fingers found her hand. Carmilla squeezed the hand in return, not having the courage to open her eyes. She took in a deep breath and let it out.

“No one deserves an unfair trial,” She said with more potency. She looked to the crowd, meeting every pair of eyes she could lay sights on. Most never met hers, opting to look away in shame. But the rare view of another staring back at her unwavering was something she found comforting. One of them being Elena. She had her hand gripping Carmilla’s tightly, a look of warmth in her features. She nodded encouragingly to her, her lips stretching into a gentle smile.

Carmilla sucked in a breath, fighting the tears once more. She didn’t deserve to have someone who stood at her side so abidingly.

“To think I’d witness the power of friendship,” Heisenberg snickered, his head still titled as he eyed the two woman.

Carmilla let out a sarcastic laugh, her eyes burning in annoyance. She stepped forward, now in the middle of the crowd. Which had surprisingly stayed to watch the display of the two.

“What’s it to you anyway, this whole town bows down to you like you’re some god.” Carmilla said, letting out the strain in her fists by flattening them on her hips.

“Ding, Ding, Ding~” Heisenberg sung out, “you’re correct.”

Carmilla winced, taking into account that she knew nothing about this village. She all of a sudden felt like a fool, like she just barked up the wrong tree and there were dozens of witnesses. Now she desired to cower away as her face fell hot, her molars chewing at the fatty tissue of her cheek.

“S-still, just because you’ve got the power doesn’t mean you get to use it to thwart others.” God she should just stop talking. From the looks other gave her and the adrenaline roaring through her body, things were getting worse. But she never knew when to back down.

“If that’s so, then please. Enlighten me on how to keep these pests under control without a little fear.” Heisenberg reached into his trench coat, pulling out a fat cigar and a lighter. His posture lax and his face screwed up into complete imperiousness. Bored and clearly uninterested, he lit his cigar and waited for Carmilla to come up with an impossible solution.

“Well you could start with being a little fair!” Carmilla let her voice raise, vexed by this lords indifferent regard.

Heisenberg took a long drag then outstretched his hands. “I am, aren’t I?” He said through tobacco smoke. “I killed that guy,” He pointed to the man with his skull split open. “So now its his turn…”

The mentioned man shook in his spot, hands gripping solid ground. But he said nothing to argue for his life. Carmilla had half the mind to beat some sense into him, to fight back, to not let others choose his fate. But she kept still, tongue in cheek as she fought back the growing lump in her throat.

“Lycan got your tongue?” Heisenberg taunted, his knowing smirk showing just how much he enjoyed this little rebellion.

“Unless you wish to cut it out of me, I won’t let this slide.” Carmilla’s voice dropped, the weight of her heart dragging her down into pure resentment. Even if he did go through with this, she would make sure he knew just how much she loathed it.

Heisenberg chuckled, “I’ve got to admit, the kitties got some spunk,” He paced around the circle, heavy hammer in hand. Encroaching on Carmilla’s personal space, he leaned forward so his putrid breath of smoke reached her nose. “It’s too bad the kitty can’t handle a little show…”

Before she could let out her dissent, Heisenberg pulled away and whipped around to face the crowd. “On that note, I’d wish to deeply apologies for my delay. You all came here for a show!” He spoke loudly. Looking all around with an egotistical smile.

“Didn’t you,” He said softly, eyeing Carmilla.