Lars and Mikey leave.

Claire felt the presence that had stepped to the fore and taken control during the short fight and had announced itself recede, leaving her in command of her body and voice once more. The alter ego still stirred within her; she could feel its powerful will, watchful and tense. Claire felt reassured by the ancient persona; she somehow knew that it lurked ready to defend her if needed, that it would not allow harm to the body that was its refuge.

The two injured vampires were wary now; Claire's strength when she had fought them had been an unexpected and painful lesson. Mikey straightened his broken wrist, the sound of splintering and cracking as his bones reformed and knitted together, making Claire wince. He flexed his fingers, his expression evidence that the arm was still weak and injured, although at least once again intact. Lars straightened, and there were more awful grinding sounds as his ribs, too, healed partially.

"Kesha?" Lars was **** to continue the confrontation, but equally loath to leave Kesha if she was in danger.

"It's cool, Lars," Kesha told the tall blonde kindred. "She ain't gonna hurt me. If she had wanted, she could have drained me dry back in the club. You go tell the court what she said, you can call me later with their answer for Carmilla."

"Okay, your call, sister," Lars and Mikey looked relieved that Kesha had given her leave for them to retreat without her. "If she is who she says, then you know we are way out of our depth here."

"Yeah, no shit." Kesha gave a short, sardonic laugh. "That ain't a name no kindred would lie about unless they had the centuries to back it up."

The two men backed away before turning and heading away through the alley. Claire felt weak-kneed with relief as the confrontation was ended. She stepped over to Kesha and held out her hand, helping the pretty vampire woman to her feet. Kesha's hazel eyes studied Claire's face intently, curiosity, excitement and nervousness fighting for dominance in her expression.

"How the hell can you be Carmilla Von Karstein and claim that you're a newborn?" She asked, more to herself than to Claire. "Shit, girl, that's the name of an elder, and a long-dead one at that. Yet you don't seem to know jack about kindred."

"It's complicated, I can't explain it. I need help to make sense of this," Claire answered truthfully. "You'll come with me then?"

"Hell yeah, you're dangerous for sure, but this is the weirdest and sexiest night I had since my sire turned me," Kesha answered eagerly.