The Divergence

───

Lavinia settled into the chair at her desk, crossing one leg over the other as she absently tucked a strand of golden hair behind one pointed ear.

The apartment had become quieter.

Not because the sounds beyond its walls had disappeared, but because her mind had slowly learned to let them drift into the background.

The distant conversations, footsteps from neighboring apartments, and countless heartbeats remained, yet they no longer demanded her attention all at once.

Her crimson eyes lowered to the phone resting in her hands.

"...Right."

There was still a world outside her apartment.

Her thumb moved across the screen.

Another news site.

Another emergency broadcast.

Another collection of eyewitness videos.

Governments across the globe were issuing statements.

Scientists admitted they had no explanation.

Hospitals were overwhelmed.

Entire streets had filled with people who no longer looked entirely human.

She opened another article.

Then another.

The details varied.

The conclusion didn't.

The Darkness had happened.

It had happened everywhere.

Nobody knew why.

Nobody had been spared.

She continued scrolling, barely seeming to look at the articles as they passed beneath her eyes. Somehow, despite moving through them far quicker than she ever could have before, every sentence settled neatly into place inside her mind.

She understood everything she read.

Without slowing down.

"...Huh."

She blinked.

"...I'm definitely reading faster."

It didn't feel difficult.

It felt...

Natural.

Almost effortless.

Another swipe.

A government press conference.

Another.

An interview with someone whose daughter had transformed.

Social media clips.

Photographs.

People arguing over whether it was a miracle or a catastrophe.

Lavinia leaned back in her chair and let out a slow breath.

"...Well."

A faint smile tugged at her lips.

"I can safely rule out this being a prank."

She looked down at herself.

The black gothic dress.

Her long golden hair spilling over her shoulders.

Her reflection staring back from the dark edges of her phone.

"...And a dream."

She laughed quietly.

"That one's dropped to about... infinitely zero."

Another headline caught her eye.

First Images of Werewolves Released.

Curious, she tapped it.

A gallery opened.

The first photograph filled her screen.

A young man stood outside a suburban home, a pair of gray wolf ears rising from his dark hair while a matching tail rested behind him.

He was...

Handsome.

Lavinia clicked her tongue.

"Tch."

She studied him for another second before giving a small shrug.

"I'm not jealous."

Her thumb hovered over the display.

"I didn't look any worse than he did when I was a guy."

She nodded once.

"Nope."

With a flick of her thumb, the photograph disappeared upward.

"I looked perfectly fine."

She let out a slow breath before absentmindedly patting her chest.

Her hand met soft resistance.

She stopped.

"..."

Another gentle pat.

"...Huh."

The corners of her mouth lifted.

"I'm still straight."

She blinked.

"...Am I?"

The question lingered for a moment.

"If I'm a girl now..."

She tilted her head thoughtfully.

"...Does that still make me straight?"

Silence.

She thought about it for several seconds.

"...Eh."

A lazy shrug followed.

"Doesn't really matter."

That answer seemed good enough.

She rested her chin against one hand, staring vaguely at the phone.

Women.

Pretty women.

...

She swallowed.

"...Am I just repressed?"

She frowned at the thought.

"...No."

Another pause.

"I don't think so."

A quiet laugh escaped her.

"I literally woke up like this."

Her attention drifted back toward the screen.

"Wolves..."

Then she remembered.

"...There were vampires too."

She hadn't actually looked at those yet.

After all, she clearly didn't resemble the wolf she'd just seen.

Typing another search, she waited only a moment before more photographs appeared.

Most were blurry.

Some were remarkably clear.

One image immediately caught her attention.

A young woman stood outside what looked like a convenience store.

Silver-gray wolf ears poked proudly through dark hair while a thick tail rested comfortably behind her.

She was beautiful.

Lavinia found herself smiling.

"...She's gorgeous."

The thought arrived naturally.

Then another followed almost immediately.

"...That's a shame."

She blinked.

"...She's a wolf."

Her gaze remained fixed on the photograph.

"...She would've been gorgeous as a human."

The next thought surfaced without hesitation.

"...I bet she'd taste really good."

Silence.

Lavinia stared.

"..."

A tiny sting pricked her lower lip.

"...Ow?"

She lightly brushed a fingertip across it.

When she pulled her hand away, a tiny smear of crimson rested against her skin.

The sting was already fading.

Curious, she touched one of her upper canines with the tip of her tongue.

Sharper.

Much sharper.

"...My fang..."

She must have nicked her own lip.

"...Right."

Absentmindedly, she licked the tiny bead of blood from her lower lip.

She paused.

"...Oh."

Sweet.

Not overwhelmingly so.

Just pleasantly sweet, carrying a rich flavor that almost completely hid what she expected blood to taste like.

She blinked.

"...That's strange."

She lightly touched her lip once more before resting her chin back in her palm.

Her eyes drifted toward the photograph of the wolf woman.

Then, briefly, she remembered the handsome man she'd seen only moments earlier.

"...Well."

A smile quietly returned to her face.

"I guess I still like girls."

She laughed softly to herself.

"I didn't feel anything looking at the guy."

Her eyes lingered on the wolf woman's picture.

"...Though..."

She rubbed thoughtfully at her lower lip.

"...Thinking someone looks delicious is probably a brand new problem."

───

Lavinia rested her elbow on the desk, lightly tapping one fingernail against the wooden surface as she stared at the clock on her computer.

9:41 AM.

Tap.

Tap.

Tap.

She let out a quiet sigh.

"...I want to do something."

Her fingers stopped.

She wasn't sure what.

Normally she'd have gone to work, or out for a walk, grabbed something to eat, or even wandered around the city for a while. Sitting inside all day had never really been her thing usually.

Her crimson eyes drifted toward the drawn curtains.

Warm daylight seeped gently through the fabric, bright enough to illuminate the apartment without revealing the view outside.

She stared at them for a few moments.

"..."

Then slowly shook her head.

"...Probably not."

The news had been clear enough.

Whatever vampires were...

Daytime apparently wasn't their friend.

She wasn't particularly eager to test exactly how unfriendly it was.

Pushing herself away from the desk, Lavinia stretched before making her way back toward the bathroom.

The mirror greeted her once more.

"...Hello again."

She smiled faintly before looking herself over with a more critical eye.

The dress really was beautiful.

Until now, she'd mostly been distracted by the fact she'd suddenly become... well...

Her.

Now she found herself appreciating the clothing itself.

The fabric was almost entirely black, rich enough to catch the light without becoming glossy. Golden clasps fastened the front neatly together, accompanied by matching buttons that stood out elegantly against the darker material.

She ran a hand lightly over the bodice.

"...This can't be cheap."

The stitching looked immaculate.

Not a loose thread.

Not a wrinkle.

Not even where she'd been sitting for the better part of twenty minutes.

Her sleeves ended neatly at her wrists, while the layered skirt fell gracefully around her legs, moving just enough whenever she shifted her weight.

"...Luxurious."

She smiled.

"I approve."

Her attention dropped lower.

The calf-high black boots hugged her legs comfortably, fitting so naturally that she'd almost forgotten she was wearing them.

She lifted one foot, turning it this way and that.

"...I can understand wolves."

She nodded to herself.

"Ears."

She lifted a finger.

"Tail."

Another finger.

"Makes sense."

Her gaze returned to her own reflection.

"...I get an entire wardrobe."

She looked down again.

"And boots."

Her smile widened.

"I'm not complaining."

It just seemed...

Remarkably thorough.

Lavinia leaned a little closer to the mirror before opening her mouth.

Two elegant fangs rested where her canines should have been.

"...Hm."

She tilted her head.

"I don't really look intimidating."

If anything...

Cute.

Well...

Perhaps not cute.

Elegant.

Definitely elegant.

She experimentally reached up and gently poked one fang with the tip of her finger.

"...Ow."

A tiny sting shot through her fingertip.

She blinked.

"...Sharp."

She rubbed her finger absentmindedly before smiling.

The discomfort was already disappearing.

"So I heal quickly."

That made sense.

Her lower lip had stopped hurting almost immediately after she'd accidentally bitten it earlier.

Now even her fingertip already felt perfectly normal.

"...Convenient."

She stepped back from the mirror.

Turned slightly.

Then back again.

Another small turn.

She watched herself move.

Something...

Caught her attention.

Her smile faded into thoughtful curiosity.

"..."

She furrowed her brows.

Then deliberately took another step.

Turn.

Stop.

Turn again.

Her eyes remained fixed on her reflection.

"..."

She tried once more.

This time paying close attention.

Her movements...

Flowed.

There wasn't a clear beginning or end to them.

Each motion naturally carried into the next, her posture adjusting almost before she consciously thought about it.

She raised one arm.

It lowered smoothly as she turned.

The turn became another step.

The step shifted her weight.

Her long golden hair followed behind in a graceful sweep before settling softly across her back.

Lavinia stood perfectly still.

"...No."

She tried again.

A quicker turn.

Another.

The skirt of her dress fanned gently outward before settling back into place as she came to a stop.

Everything...

Flowed.

"...I couldn't do that before."

She laughed softly.

"I was stiff."

Another amused smile crossed her face.

"...Kind of clumsy too."

Yet somehow...

Without any practice whatsoever...

She looked almost...

Graceful.

Not because she'd learned how.

Because her body simply moved that way.

She watched herself for another few quiet seconds before giving an almost imperceptible nod.

"...You know..."

A playful smile returned to her lips.

"The Darkness gets a thumbs up for this one."

She raised her hand, giving her own reflection an exaggerated thumbs-up.

"If I'd looked like this..."

She gestured toward herself.

"...and moved the way I used to..."

She let out an amused breath.

"...Even I'd think something was wrong."

Her reflection smiled back with the same effortless poise.

Lavinia couldn't help smiling a little wider in return.

"...Yeah."

"I'll happily take the upgrade."

Lavinia stood near the front door with her hands resting behind her back.

She looked at the door.

Then down the hallway toward her bedroom.

"..."

Without really thinking about it, she started walking.

One end of the apartment.

Then back again.

Her pace was completely ordinary, no faster than she'd have walked before. Every so often she'd glance toward the front door before continuing on, as though expecting the answer to suddenly appear if she stared at it long enough.

"I want to go out..."

She reached her bedroom.

Turned around.

Walked back.

"...But I don't."

The contradiction lingered in her mind.

She wanted to do something.

Anything.

Yet every time she looked toward the front door, the urge quietly disappeared.

"...Weird."

She stopped pacing and wandered into the living room instead.

Her apartment wasn't particularly large, but it was comfortable enough. A sofa sat against one wall opposite the television, while a solid wooden coffee table occupied the center of the room.

Lavinia idly picked up the television remote.

Set it down.

Picked up a coaster.

Put it back.

She looked around.

"...Well."

"If I'm a vampire..."

Her eyes settled on the coffee table.

"...Let's see."

She crouched slightly and slipped both hands beneath it.

Then stood.

The table rose effortlessly.

She blinked.

"..."

She lifted it a little higher.

Still...

Nothing.

No strain.

No burning muscles.

No feeling that she was carrying something heavy.

It simply...

Wasn't.

Lavinia slowly lowered it again before looking at her hands.

"...That table's..."

She frowned thoughtfully.

"...What?"

A couple hundred pounds?

Close enough.

Whatever it weighed...

She'd just lifted it as casually as someone might pick up a pillow.

She laughed.

"...Okay."

"I really can't complain."

She spread her arms slightly before turning once in place.

Her skirt flared softly before settling around her legs.

"I lost my male body."

Another turn.

"I might've even lost my human identity."

She stopped, smiling at her own reflection in the dark television screen.

"..."

Then she gave herself another playful spin.

"...But..."

She laughed.

"I'm a vampire."

The sentence alone was enough to make her grin.

It still sounded ridiculous.

Ridiculous...

And true.

She wandered into the kitchen, still smiling to herself.

Opening a drawer, she absentmindedly looked over the utensils neatly resting inside.

"..."

A thought surfaced.

She looked down at one of her fingers.

"...I could test my regeneration."

Silence.

She imagined making a small cut.

Watching it heal.

"..."

Then immediately shook her head.

"...No."

"I don't know what it costs."

She closed the drawer halfway before pausing.

"What if it makes me thirsty?"

That thought alone was enough to convince her.

She already knew, somehow, that she could consume blood.

She hadn't learned it.

Nobody had told her.

She simply...

Knew.

The same way humans simply knew they needed food or water.

She wasn't particularly eager to discover whether healing accelerated that need.

"...Later."

She slid the drawer open again.

Her eyes landed on a metal fork.

"...You."

Picking it up, she held it in both hands.

She pressed.

The fork bent backward with almost embarrassing ease.

"...Huh."

She bent it the opposite direction.

Then back again.

Again.

Again.

The metal weakened rapidly before—

Snap.

The handle broke cleanly away.

Lavinia looked down at the two pieces resting in her hands.

"..."

Then she looked at herself.

A smile slowly spread across her face.

"...Former me."

She sighed dramatically.

"I'm sorry."

She wiped beneath one eye with a single finger as though brushing away a tear.

"...Even this five-foot-tall body has better specs than you."

She held the pose for another second before breaking into laughter.

"...Poor guy."

Another chuckle escaped her as she set the broken fork onto the counter.

Life really had changed.

She wasn't merely prettier.

Or stronger.

She was...

Different.

Entirely.

The thought gradually settled over her again.

Her smile softened.

She looked toward the apartment door visible down the hallway.

"..."

Outside.

She could leave whenever she wanted.

Technically.

Yet...

She didn't really want to.

Not because she was afraid of the sun.

Not exactly.

She simply...

Didn't feel inclined to step outside while it was shining.

And beyond that...

She looked down at herself.

Golden hair.

Pointed ears.

Bright crimson eyes.

"...It's only been about three hours."

Nobody knew what was happening yet.

People were frightened.

Confused.

Someone might panic.

Someone might scream.

Someone...

Might shoot.

Lavinia frowned thoughtfully.

"...I don't think bullets would kill me."

At least...

She didn't think they would.

She wasn't especially interested in finding out.

The thought alone was enough to keep her standing exactly where she was.

She looked toward the front door for another few quiet moments before smiling to herself.

"..."

"I think..."

She turned back toward her apartment.

"...I'll stay inside until sunset."

For the first time all morning...

That felt like the easiest decision she'd made.